John Bowley and Sherwood Almshouses Charity
The Sherwood Almshouses Trust and the John Bowley Almshouses Trust merged in 2007 to form the John Bowley and Sherwood Almshouses Charity. The Charity became incoporated in 2011.
John Bowley Almshouses
The John Bowley Almshouses Trust was established in the Will of Susannah Banks in 1907 in memory of her husband, John Bowley.
The Trust bought the site in 1909 and built two adjoining Almshouses. The inscription on the front elevation of the Almshouses read ‘God’s Providence is my inheritance’. The Almshouses served the community well until the 1990’s when it became apparent to the Trustees that changes would be needed to bring the accommodation up to modern standards for comfort and safety. With the advice and assistance of the Almshouses Association and financial support of the Housing Corporation plans were drawn up for their replacement by the present building which was completed and ready for occupation in February 1996.
The Charity originally housed “poor trades people or mechanics or their widows or daughters over 60 years who are members of the Church of England” and, failing that, any “poor person” over 60, a member of the Church of England and who was born or lived in Folkestone for not less than ten years”.
Sherwood Almshouses Trust
The Sherwood Trust Bungalows were built on the site of St Michael and All Angels Church. A wooden church was built on the site in 1865 which was replaced by a brick building in later years. The church was demolished in 1953; some parts of the church remain and form part of the current Sherwood Bungalows boundary wall.
The Sherwood Almshouse Trust was set up in the 1950s by Marion Sherwood. The Trustees of the Marion Sherwood Charity purchased the land, where the former church of St Michael and All Angels was sited, in 1955 from the Canterbury Diocesan. The land which now forms the small park adjacent to the bungalows was sold to the Mayor and Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Folkestone in 1956 ‘for the enjoyment of the public forever’.
The Sherwood Almshouses Trust was originally set up to provide accommodation for poor women, of good character, over 60 years of age, being widows, spinsters or married women living apart from their husbands. Failing that, any “poor person” over 60, a member of the Church of England and who was born or lived in Folkestone for not less than ten years.
Management of the Charity
The Charity is administered by voluntary Trustees, who are all local people, four of whom are appointed by the Folkestone Town Council and the rest are co-opted. Decisions making is governed by a Charity Commision Scheme Document dated 2007 and a Memorandum of Association dated 2011.
Day-to-day administration is carried out by the Scheme Manager, Tina Pearson. She holds a level 4 Certificate in Housing from the Chartered Institute of Housing.
The current Folkestone Town Council appointed trustees are Dr Paul Bingham, Richard Wallace, Cllr Roger West and Cllr Lucy McGirr.
The co-opted trustees are Tom McNeice (Chairman), Rosemary Braid, Stephen Ind, Cllr Rebecca Shoob, David Burton, Jenny Todd and Neil Jones.
Trustee Duties
